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Tuna Tube Installation

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Hints,Tips and How To's
Forum Description: Rigs, tackle, baits, angling techniques, tips and hints & your DIY projects here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=88980
Printed Date: 21 Jun 2026 at 9:16am


Topic: Tuna Tube Installation
Posted By: MATTOO
Subject: Tuna Tube Installation
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 3:20pm
Hi Guys, Installing a tuna tube on my Surtees 5.5, It has a 3600gph pump. My problem is that it will not draw and pump while underway but fine at rest. Because of the ballast tank and the bouyancy tanks I have placed pump in outboard well with tube to pick up below. I' wonder if anyone has installed one in this location and used a pipe below the hull line facing forward to pressurize the line while underway.

Suggestions greatly appreciated particularly on a the same boat.


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Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0!


Replies:
Posted By: EditB
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 3:29pm
I think it's called a venturi pick up, like a scoop facing forward to collect water as you're underway. I think y-knot has installed on on his surtees, drop him a PM.


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I do not lie about fishing, I willingly participate in a campaign of misinformation.

Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 3:34pm
It will probably need to have a scoop or face slightly forward at the pickup to work well under way. Behind the transom edge is sometimes problematic as you are drawing from aerated water, so you may need to play around with scoops etc to get it right.  If your 3600gph pump is one of those red and white Rules, note that they don't like being immersed that much in my experience. Best to try and keep it dry on the outside as much as you can.

Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 3:48pm
Thanks Guys, I figured as much was looking to save time by using someone elses experience on the same boat. 
Tagit I have got one of those rule pumps and would be disappointed to hear they would be problematic. It is a sealed unit. But I will persist until a problem occurrs unless I get good advice to try another unit.


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Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0!

Posted By: Torpedo
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 3:53pm
Ran just an angled pipe for pickup on my 6.1 last season, it'd be fine most of the time but intermittently stop priming. made up an alloy bracket with scoop off the transom this season and has been faultless.  

Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 4:31pm
Torpedo, did you position it to either side if the ballast opening or under the opening.

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Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0!

Posted By: Torpedo
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 4:45pm

Off to the side, pump running under where factory burley pot was. Could be cavitation issues if looking at a decent sized scoop off the ballast flap?

Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 4:56pm
Sweet torpedo, I'm going to try a flexible scoop as we often launch and retrieve in shallow water. But I know exactly where you mean, thanks.

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Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0!

Posted By: andrem
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 8:26pm
i had a welder put one on my 5.5, we mucked with it for quite a while to get the feed to the rule right (which was mounted in the outboard pod.) flexi scoop probably wont work that well. i had quite a big pipe to feed my tube, and to be honest if its welded you aint going to take it out while beach launching. there was a thread on tuna tubes and pics of my old boat on here somewhere but i cant find it.

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Rehab

Posted By: Rockstar from Mars
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 8:33pm
Here is an old thread on tuna tubes on Surtees 5.5 

http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/tuna-tubes-on-a-surtees-55-workmate_topic71185_post1017098.html?KW=#1017098" rel="nofollow - http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/tuna-tubes-on-a-surtees-55-workmate_topic71185_post1017098.html?KW=#1017098


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Winning.....

Posted By: Raging Bull
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 8:48pm
Throw money at it, eventually it will work! My wife kindly reminded me my tuna tubes cost more than new clears would have, just prior to reminding me i have not used them yet!

Posted By: NZ4X4
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 9:41pm
I have a little Frewza that has tuna tubes installed with the pump in the outboard pod. I will take some pics of the pickup/setup for you and post them tomorrow night. its works perfectly at rest and while underway.

Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 11:24pm
My boat has a venturi pick up feeding the pod. there are holes at the back of the pod to let the water out but high enough to cover the pump pick up. My boat had a red and white Rule which immersed every time the boat stopped so spent a lot of time under water ... it fed the live bait tank actually, had another type of pump on the tuna tubes but same principle. Anyway, my Rule pump died a few weeks back so it's got a cheapie there now.

Posted By: Blue Asparagus
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 10:46am
ok mate for what its worth the rule has to be blow the water line to work not it has to be in the lowest part of the boat a skin fitting is the go with a scope, you would think they work just from the hydraulics etc but having a scope forces water into the pick up, now they are not 100% come off a wave get air-borne or roll and you will air lock the system, now I am on a 38ft boat and it happens and if your in a trailer boat then no doubt you will jump and bump your way along.

now if you dont want any of this to happen and you have a bait tank then mount the pump in that especially if it is feed naturally a tank with a venturie  wont supply the demand needed, but a tank built into the floor is the ducks nuts, 
original question have the pump at the lowest point you can below the water line also the pick up as low as possible.


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Ultimate GAME Fishing Adventures. Northland

Posted By: segador
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 5:08pm
you can get away with just thru hull and no pick up you just have to open the valves first before turning the pumps on alowing the the feed to fill up say 10 seconds then turn the pumps on but this only works if your pump is below waterline 

Posted By: andrem
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 5:12pm
wont work on a surtee's becuase of the ballast keel, but have setup like that on my new boat with a forward facing scoop and works much better and pump doesn't sit in the water

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Rehab

Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 6:19pm
Thanks Heaps guys. The test last night was good and the flexible pick up functioned but is not a long term solution. Will take andem's lead and fit a secure low profile scoop. Pump in engine pod. Disappointment with pressure for washdown from this system.
Thanks " rockstar" i knew that was there somewhere. 
Andem is right about the power draw though, and for me running a 1990 115 Evinrude with 6 amp output it is a constant juggling act with power usage. But she's a thirsty but reliable unit, touch wood.


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Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0!


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