Thanks all for the advice and help.
No offence was taken, I am right at the beginning of my adventure when it comes to canal boats, so I'm bound to ask more basic questions.
I did my 10m pleasure craft licence abroad a while ago, I think it's called 10m ICC in the UK (not that relevant to canal boating) and it took a couple days drive to get the boat to the marina its currently in, I was never told or it didn't come up regarding pulling the lever out.
I am planning to go on a helmsman course before I get out on the water. And in the mean time do a lot more reading regarding requirements for batteries.