Struggling to fit Merrell boots to Chouinard bindings

[fisheater]

Not to be harsh, and I lived through many years of tight budgets. I wouldn’t reuse a set of holes on that binding, and I certainly wouldn’t drill a new set for that binding.
I’ve had a couple rants about how poor performing is bad for the sport. I’ve skied those bindings on equivalent skis and boots. They don’t even qualify for poor performing equipment.
Said with love, only wishing you the best. However I run construction sites, I’m not a PR guy.

[Lhartley]

Just on 10 dollar thrift skis, same holes as the NNN. The holes would eventually be quiver killed if I like the skis so not at all concerned. Here's a mockup. I'm really not concerned with premature release as the slope is literally my backyard and I barely go fast enough for an injury.

[Chisana]

Not a damn thing wrong with those bindings, just trying to find 3 pin boots with thin enough duckbill to fit is the problem
And thin duckbilled boots have very little stiffness in the sole which complicates turning, unless you have steve Barnett type skill.
Those old karhu skis are a favorite of mine as well. Mine are the wax version and since they are foam core and are entering their 5th decade of use, have very little camber left, but still a ski I use often.
Keep in mind, this comes from a skier who seldom telemark and mostly skis off track old snowshoe/ sniwmachine type trail conditions.

[Lhartley]

The camber on these skis are hoooooped. It's bad. I already have mr48s in two sizes for this class of ski, I'm not skiing them for speed on flats, I'm skiing them purely for entertainment in my home field and educational purposes

[phoenix]

I've skied those xcd-gt's for a few decades now, and have skied those bindings (or something nearly identical), but not on that ski. That's a poor match. The skis warrant a sturdier boot, and were/are typically skied with a solid leather. Thin soled leathers won't do it justice. Those wire bales also have a tendency to pop out of the toe piece if pushed at all, they're not riveted in.
As suggested by fisheater, I wouldn't advise reusing the holes. On a ski and binding of that age, the original holes are likely deteriorated. And, while the NNN's might match the holes, the balance point (pin line) will be different than 3 pins.
For what it's worth, those GT's are still my go-to for light touring, but with a solid flat bale binding (Chouinard's, in my case).

[Lhartley]

Lol. I'm gonna use those bindings on those skis. Not my first rodeo. The skis were 10 dollars and I repurposed the nnn bc for skis i use all the time. Really, just looking for an answer my question about the Alaskas, but thanks. Again, im not skiing couliers on these, just wanna enjoy something my father did on gentle slopes in my horse pasture.

[phoenix]

"Really, just looking for an answer my question about the Alaskas"

In which case... answer is yes.

[Lhartley]

"Really, just looking for an answer my question about the Alaskas"

In which case... answer is yes.

Thank you. No XCD GT's will be harmed, pinky swear

[Lhartley]

Update: fixed

[fgd135]

I have a pair of Merrell "730" boots, that say "Nordic Norm, 75 MM" on the bottom of the sole. I'm trying to use them with a pair of Tua Toute Neige 205 skis, with Chouinard bindings. The binding seems too small ...

Yep, those bindings were made incorrectly by the Coonyard; they're essentially 73mm, not 75mm. The die that was used to bend the base wings had a corner bend radius that essentially prevented boots from fully seating on the pins unless they were ground, and also bail clearance tolerances that were in the minus category to begin with. Chouinard was famous for using their customers for inadvertent product testing in the 1980s. I've commented about this before...nothing can be done other than grinding your boot sole sides to fit, which means your boots will then be too narrow to ever fit in correctly made 75mm bindings (Rottefella, Voile) without side to side wobble.

Don't try to use some cheap wire bail bindings designed for thin 75mm touring sole boots or shoes with good leather tele boots, you'll also regret that at some point, as the overpressure on the sole by the bail will eventually break the plastic midsoles and you'll be left with an expensive repair, or worse, you'll have to walk back from a tour because the toes broke off your boots.
Or, the wings will break off the bindings unexpectedly, or the bails will break, wit hthe same result, a long walk back to the car.
Spend the money, buy decent bindings if it's not too late.