A water uptake device for directing water flow into a moving boat that allows the volume and pressure of the water flow entering the device to be adjusted from full force to no flow at all by simple adjustment of how much of its scooping member protrudes beyond its through-hull fitting into the water stream. Water enters the device through an opening in its deployable scooping member, and operator positioning of the scooping member relative to the through-hull fitting, including complete withdrawal of the scoop into the distal end of the through-hull fitting, is remotely accomplished so that the operator can remain at the helm. Multiple devices can be used on the same marine vessel, with all devices mounted on the bottom of its hull, in a standard fashion for through-hull fittings mounted below the waterline. Applications may include the filling of ballast bags for the sport of wakeboarding.