Hi FTF,
I had the same problem last season. I had changed all the parts Motor c/w brush box tubes-cooling coil and water pick up tube to a new fast electric hull. But no water came out. This was strange, as the new boat was only an up date of the old one which picked up water with no problems. The answer turned out to be the new silicon tube which I fitted to the new hull. Because the tube is so flexible, it expands easily over pipe ends, but had a smaller inside diameter, which held back the flow of water. I now only use silicon tube to join lengths aluminium tube which has a larger inside diameter, offering less internal resistance. There is a new (plastic) tubing available from Hanna Parts called Tygon tube, which has a fractionally larger internal bore. Although I have some I have not yet tried it out, so don't know if it will improve the situation. I have tried to get hold of larger bore silicone tube at shows etc. But they all seem to stock the smaller bore now.
With regard to your pick up. You could try filing a slot in the front edge of the tube, and plugging the bottom.
Several of my slower electric models use this style of pick up.
Regards Bob