This may be the end of paper charts as we know them. In a move that could have a tremendous impact on the safety of navigation for recreational boat owners, NOAA has announced plans to end its support of the system it has been using to produce more than 1,000 paper charts as well as the charts used in cruising guides and chart books. The plan also would downgrade the value of electronic charts used in recreational boats. This proposal is an about face from what NOAA officials said in 2014 when they decided to let private companies print official…